India, Pakistan agree on 'de-escalating' border tensions

India and Pakistan have reached an “understanding” to “de-escalate” military tensions in Kashmir after both sides accused the other of violating the ceasefire in a deadly flare up.

The two countries agreed to “de-escalate the situation along the Line of Control” in a 10-minute telephone conversation between the Indian army’s director general of military operations, Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia, and his Pakistani counterpart, Major General Ashfaq Nadeem, according to army spokesman Jagdeep Dahiya.

Strict instructions have been passed not to violate the ceasefire in the disputed border region, AFP reports.

“We have always upheld the ceasefire and have only retaliated,” the spokesman said without disclosing further details on the conversation.